Mold In Schools

I am a teacher allergic to mold, dust, and oak.  I recently moved into a portable classroom at my school 6 weeks ago.  Everyday within 20 minutes of entering my room my throat starts to tighten and by the end of the day I have lost my voice.  Could the wood paneling in the building possibly be causing this?  I have never had such a strong reaction to indoor air before.  I moved an air purifier into my classroom and open the windows but it doesn’t help.  I’m embarrassed to admit I might be allergic to my classroom.  I don’t even want to go to the doctor because he might think I’m crazy.  I’ve never heard of someone being allergic to a room.-Missy ,Texas

            Portable classrooms are constructed of materials that release formaldehyde.  These materials may include wood paneling, particleboard flooring, and storage cabinets.  As such, a portable classroom building may not be much different (relative to formaldehyde) than some mobile homes or travel trailers.

            Though formaldehyde levels are not as high in such structures as they used to be, levels ≥ 0.10 ppmv (100 ppbv) can be expected when such structures are new.  Higher levels can be expected on warm, humid days.  Formaldehyde levels do decrease with time but may persist above acceptable levels for sensitive individuals for several years. 

            The problem with portable schools and formaldehyde may be intensified by a variety of factors.  In south Texas, you are subject to a warm, humid environment.  Such conditions increase formaldehyde emissions and therefore potential formaldehyde exposures.  Thus portable school-formaldehyde problems may be expected to be worse in your area.

            Portable schools often are constructed with heat pump-type package heating/cooling units in each classroom. These units typically provide little or no outside air for ventilation.  As such, they are poorly ventilated and pose air quality/health/comfort issues even in the absence of elevated formaldehyde levels.  The poor ventilation conditions can of course result in increased formaldehyde exposure levels.

            Portable schools are usually assembled on site with little site preparation.  On poorly-drained sites, water can sit under such structures causing increased relative humidity levels (and thus increased formaldehyde levels).  Water under portable school modules can also result in mold growth on below floor structural timbers.

            The throat tightening and resulting hoarseness would be consistent with exposure to formaldehyde.  Formaldehyde exposure can cause a variety of respiratory symptoms (nasal, sinus irritation, runny nose, cough, shortness of breath, chest tightening, etc.) as well as general symptoms (headache, unusual fatigue, lethargy).

            Several years ago I visited a portable school.  On entering I could sense a “tightening” of my nose and throat.  My thoughts were “How could anyone teach or learn in such an environment.”

            Unfortunately, an air purifier provides no benefit to individuals exposed to formaldehyde.  Being “allergic” to one’s classroom or building is not uncommon.  In a statistical study of teachers here in Indiana, we observed that about 20% of teachers experience air quality- type symptoms often or always.  These are likely to be due to a variety of exposures that cause building-related symptoms.

 

September 22, 2006